John Calvin Commentary Genesis 41:15

"And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it." — Genesis 41:15 (ASV)

And Pharaoh said to Joseph. We see that Pharaoh offers himself as a disciple to Joseph, being persuaded by the statement of the butler that he is a prophet of God. This is, indeed, a constrained humility, but it is expressly recorded so that when the opportunity of learning is afforded to us, we may not refuse reverently to honor the gifts of the Spirit.

Now, though Joseph, in referring Pharaoh to God, seems to deny that he himself is about to interpret the dream, his answer bears on a different point. Because he knew that he was conversing with a heathen addicted to superstitions, he wishes, above all things, to ascribe to God the glory due to Him; as if he had said, I am able to do nothing in this matter, nor will I offer anything as from myself, but God alone shall be the interpreter of His own secret.

Should anyone object that whenever God uses the agency of men, their office ought to be referred to in connection with His command, I indeed acknowledge that, but yet so that the whole glory may remain with God, according to the saying of St. Paul:

"Neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth" (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Moreover, Joseph not only desires to imbue the mind of Pharaoh with some relish for piety, but, by ascribing the gift of interpreting dreams to God alone, confesses that he is destitute of it until he obtains it from God.

Therefore, let us also learn from the example of holy Joseph to honor the grace of God even among unbelievers. If they shut the door against the entire and full doctrine of piety, we must, at least, endeavor to instill some drops of it into their minds.

Let us also reflect on this: nothing is less tolerable than for men to arrogate to themselves anything as their own. For this is the first step of wisdom: to ascribe nothing to ourselves, but modestly to confess that whatever in us is worthy of praise flows only from the fountain of God’s grace.

It is especially worthy of notice that when the Spirit of understanding is given to anyone from heaven, he will become a proper and faithful interpreter of God.